Smouldering

Absolutely roasting out there, with days still topping out at the high twenties. 

Saturday night saw lows of 17 degrees, another warm night and a huge amount of species once more, especially for my garden.

Buff Footman was very pleasing, a seemingly uncommon moth in these parts for me. I haven't seen one since 2023 in my garden, this record representing only my 2nd garden record! Out and about I've seen it only in singles at most sites. 

 

The reedbed micro Donacaula forficella was also only me 2nd garden record, despite being surrounding by fenland.  

 

Haplotinea insectella returned from last years first garden record, a moth on the increase? It is much larger than it's similar genus, Niditinea, and races around a pot typical of many Tineidae.  

 

Bu day, the SAL lure intended for the enigmatic Sallow Clearwing, scored a hit! A new moth for me and separated from Currant Clearwing by the yellow ventral area behind the head.

It is the 9th Clearwing species to be recorded in my garden to date. 

 

An odd larger pale Eucosma was retained, which superficially looks good for fulvana, we shall see. 

 

Warm nights continued, the adjective relentless springs to mind! 

 

Moth garden list for 2026 stands at 576 species 

 

04/07/26 - Back Garden - Fordham - East Cambridgeshire - Actinic Trap

 

Macro Moths

  

Buff Footman 1 [NFY]

Jersey Tiger 1 [NFY] 

Sallow Clearwing 1 [NFG] (To SAL Lure)

Yellow-tail 1 [NFY] 

 

Micro Moths

Batrachedra praeangusta 1 [NFY]

Dichrorampha simpliciana 1 [NFY] 

Donacaula forficella 1 [NFY] 

Haplotinea insectella 1 [NFY] 

Pyrausta purpuralis 1 [NFY] 

Eucosma sp pos fulvana 1  

 

Batrachedra praeangusta

Buff Footman

Sallow Clearwing

Dichrorampha simpliciana

Donacaula forficella

Eucosma sp pos fulvana

Haplotinea insectella

Jersey Tiger

Pyrausta purpuralis